Wednesday 21 March 2018 12:58, UK
Anthony Joshua has refused to confirm the expectation that he will weigh-in notably lighter to fight Joseph Parker.
Joshua was at his career-heaviest when he fought Wladimir Klitschko (17st 12lbs) then Carlos Takam (18st 2lbs) but it has been suggested by his promoter Eddie Hearn that he might shed weight for the upcoming world title unification fight on March 31, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Asked by Sky Sports if he would be lighter, Joshua said: "I'm not going to say because, last time I said that, I came in at my career-heaviest.
Whether I'm bigger than I was for Takam, or lighter than I was for Dominic Breazeale, I will make sure I am victorious.
"I'm not going to jinx it. Whether I'm bigger than I was for Takam, or lighter than I was for Dominic Breazeale, I will make sure I am victorious.
"I think stretching is important. Because I'm already a big guy I can tense up, naturally. I tend to do a lot more stretching now, to keep my body loose. I'm not snacking as much, which is something heavyweights can do."
Hearn had previously claimed: "I can't see [Joshua] coming in more than 17st 8lbs or 17st 9lbs, which would be half-a-stone lighter than the last fight. Maybe he will be even lighter."
WBO champion Parker, who was 17st 7lbs in his most recent fight, is also targeting a lighter weight for this month's upcoming fight.
"Yes we'll come in lighter for this fight," Parker's trainer Kevin Barry told Sky Sports earlier in their training camp.
"I think it's very important that Joe is very fast on his feet and very mobile in this fight against Joshua."
Meanwhile, Joshua's trainer Rob McCracken has insisted they are not overlooking Parker amid rumours that WBC champion Deontay Wilder is the ultimate target.
"If you underestimate boxers like Joseph Parker, you could come unstuck," McCracken said. "But there's none of that going on here - Anthony will take it deadly serious and get the win against Parker and then in the future, potentially box Wilder."
Italy's Giuseppe Quartarone was confirmed by Sky Sports this week as the referee for Joshua vs Parker, with three judges from the UK, New Zealand and the United States.
